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Archiver > BRETHREN > 1999-03 > 0920409366


From: Merle Rummel <>
Subject: Re: Unidentified subject!
Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 16:16:06 -0500


>I have a couple of Hymn Books entitled The Brethren Hymn Book , one
>belonged to my Grandfather David B. Mote and the other belonged to my Great
>Grandfather Emanual Mote.
>There's no music in either one, just the words. Did they not have music at
>their meetings around the turn of the Century?
>
Yes, I have my Gr Grandmothers Brethren hymnal -which is similar.

And NO - there were originally no musical instruments in most churches
(some had individuals who played different types of musical instruments!)

The German Baptist Brethren still give no music notation in their hymnals -
They list a tune by name, directly under the title, which "everyone knows"
(except me -since I don''t sing from it!) The Deacon gives a pitch, then
leads the song by line, and the congregation sings "a cappella" - its
beautiful.

Merle Rummel
Church Historian

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